Former advisor Mahfuz Alam has announced that he will not participate in the 13th National Parliament elections under the banner of the electoral alliance formed by the National Citizens Party (NCP) with eight like-minded parties including Jamaat-e-Islami. He made it clear, “I am not a part of this NCP.” He announced this decision on Sunday (December 28) night, shortly after the NCP announced its entry into the electoral alliance.
Explaining his political position, Mahfuz Alam wrote on Facebook that the Citizens Committee and the NCP were organized under the leadership of the front line of the July Movement. Since his fellow July fighters are associated with these two organizations, he has been providing advice, guidance and policy support as needed for the past one and a half years.
Mahfuz Alam said that his political position has been clear from the beginning. He has been consistently speaking on various issues such as new political and economic settlement, cultural fight against fascism, confronting social fascism, reconciliation and building a responsible and humane society. These issues have also been repeatedly raised by his July Movement comrades from within the Citizens' Committee and the NCP. However, the question remains whether these ideals were truly held by the party. He has tried his best to make the NCP stand on an independent political position as a large 'July umbrella', but this was not possible due to various practical reasons.
Regarding the decision not to participate in the elections for the Jamaat-NCP alliance, Mahfuz Alam wrote on Facebook that in the current reality, his respect, affection and friendship towards his July comrades will remain unwavering. However, he made it clear that he is not becoming a part of this NCP. He also mentioned that the claim that he has not been offered any offer from the Jamaat-NCP alliance is not correct. However, he considers it more important to maintain his long-standing political position and ideals than to be the alliance's candidate from any seat in Dhaka.
Stating that a kind of 'cold war' situation is prevailing in the country, Mahfuz Alam further wrote that at this time, the most reasonable way is to remain firm in one's statements and policy positions without joining any party. He said that the potential of alternative youth and July power has not yet been exhausted. Rather, he will remain steadfast on the path of the position and ideology that he has been talking about for the past one and a half years. He said that his fight will continue in all fields - political, cultural and intellectual.
He further mentioned that if anyone wants to walk with him, he will welcome them. Mahfuz Alam wrote that a new political and economic settlement is not only possible, but also feasible. He also expressed hope that the rise of alternative and moderate youth or July power is very close.
Meanwhile, National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam said that the NCP has reached an electoral agreement with eight like-minded parties including Jamaat-e-Islami and the concerned parties will participate in the elections together.
Earlier in the evening, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said at a press conference that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the National Citizens Party (NCP) are joining the electoral alliance formed by eight parties including Jamaat.
Author: Vk Das
